The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention Encourages Everyone to Protect Your Skin Today and Every Day
Friday May 28, 2010 Declared “Don’t Fry Day” To Encourage Sun Safety Awareness
To help reduce
rising rates of skin cancer from overexposure to the ultraviolet rays of the
sun, the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday
before Memorial Day, May 28, 2010, as “Don’t Fry Day” to encourage sun safety
awareness and to remind everyone to protect their skin while enjoying the
outdoors. The action step the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention emphasized for 2009 was “Slap on a Hat,” encouraging everyone to wear protective
clothing like a wide-brimmed hat to provide important protection from too much
sun. The action step for 2010 will be determined soon. -- Stay tuned!
As warm weather
approaches and millions of Americans prepare to enjoy the great outdoors, the
risk for ultraviolet (UV) damage of the skin increases. Skin cancer is on the
rise in the United States, and the American Cancer Society estimates that one
American dies every hour from skin cancer. It is estimated that this year 62,480
cases of malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, and more
than one million cases of basal cell or squamous skin cancer will be diagnosed
in the U.S.
Fortunately, skin
cancer is highly curable if detected in its early stages. An easy way to
remember sun safety awareness is to Slip! Slop! Slap!...and Wrap — slip on a
shirt, slop on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, slap on a hat, and wrap on
sunglasses. The best way to detect skin cancer early is to examine your skin
regularly and recognize changes in moles and skin growths.
Most skin cancers
are caused by overexposure to UV radiation. A tanned appearance has become a
sign of a good look and good health, fueling the increasing trends of
sunbathing and tanning beds among young adults and women. However, using a
sunless self-tanning product and continuing to apply sunscreen can help greatly
reduce skin cancer risk. Individuals with lighter-toned skin are more susceptible
to UV damage, although people of all races and ethnicities can be at risk for
skin cancer. Those who have a family history of skin cancer, plenty of moles or
freckles, or a history of severe sunburns early in life are at a higher risk of
skin cancer as well. To minimize the harmful effects of excessive and unprotected
sun exposure, protection from intense UV radiation should be a life-long
practice for everyone.
The National
Council on Skin Cancer Prevention is the united voice of 45 groups dedicated to
reducing skin cancer morbidity and mortality in the United States. Council
members represent some of the nation’s premier researchers, clinicians and
advocates for melanoma and skin cancer prevention.